Did you know we have a long-lost cousin 1,200 miles away? It's true! Billings, Montana and Billings, Missouri share more than just a name — they share a fascinating slice of American history.

Both towns tip their hats to the same guy: Frederick H. Billings, a railroad baron, lawyer, and early conservationist who left his mark on the map (twice!).

Last week, things got extra exciting when a group of friendly ambassadors from Billings, Missouri rolled into town — literally! The crew of four cruised all 1,200 miles up here on their Harley Davidsons, with sponsorships from local businesses and families back home fueling the journey. They arrived Monday, September 12, and sat down with Mayor Bill Cole the very next day to chat about becoming official sister cities.

"We had an excellent visit with the group of ambassadors from Billings, Missouri. It was an honor to host them and make compelling historical connections," Mayor Cole shared. "We packed a lot of conversation into our three-hour visit, and I hope to make a trip of my own there one day to connect more dots between our two railroad towns."

Mike McCoy, one of the Missouri ambassadors, summed up the excitement perfectly: "We have worked very, very hard and we're very excited to come up here because of the opportunity to see exactly how you grew."

And grow we did! Here's where things get interesting. Our Montana Billings is home to just over 117,000 folks (per the 2020 census), while Missouri's Billings is a cozy little community just shy of 1,000 residents. But before we get too proud of our size — Missouri's Billings has us beat in one big way: they're a full decade older than us!

Here's the scoop: Back in 1872, Frederick Billings offered the Missouri town $1,000 to build a church in exchange for naming rights. Smart deal, right? Our own Billings came along in 1882, named in honor of Frederick during his time as president of the Northern Pacific Railway (1879–1881).

Before they hit the road home, the Missouri crew presented Mayor Cole with some wonderful gifts to share and display, including a charming photo of their city council standing proudly in front of Billings (Missouri) City Hall.

Two towns. One name. A friendship 150 years in the making. Here's to many more chapters in the story of the Billings Brothers! 🤠